Airbnb isn’t a totally new thing, but James and I are slightly late to the party and have just started staying at Airbnbs this year! I realize, they are not for everyone. But they are for us! We love them. We’re no experts, but this year  we’ve stayed in three Airbnbs in a two month time period. Let’s talk about where we stayed, why we love Airbnb, why they aren’t for everyone, and what to look for when you book.

*This post contains affiliate links. That means, I may receive a commission for some of the links in this post- at no cost to you. See our Disclaimer page for details*

Where We Stayed

Our first experience with Airbnb was in Denver. I have to admit, I wasn’t sure what to expect, though I had heard mostly good reviews. Our Airbnb was located just outside the city.

This old Victorian home had been completely renovated, with large bathrooms, large bedrooms with comfortable beds, and high ceilings.  We stayed with my family of 8, and felt like we had plenty of room. The location was awesome! Being so close to the city, we were typically able to Uber to restaurants for $12 or less. (Side note: we did have a car, but parking in Denver was a nightmare).

Related: 3 Day Denver Itinerary

After Denver, we headed to the mountains in Silverthorne and stayed in a mountain side condo. The condo was a 1-bedroom loft, with a small kitchen and very small patio. It was perfect for the two of us.

The couch was cozy and the bed was really comfortable too! The kitchen was tight, but perfect for making sandwiches for hiking and a big breakfast before we headed out hiking all day. Again, location location location! We were right in the mountains, with easy access to catch the free-bus. Our favorite? Getting to soak in the condo’s pools and hot tubs!

Related: 4 Days in Colorado’s Mountains

Our third stay was an off-the grid cabin on Michigan’s west side. This little cabin was one room that that included a bed, a futon, a small kitchen with a hand pump sink and a screened in porch.

The owner is a builder who built this beautiful thing himself. The entire cabin runs on a solar power. There is an outdoor shower and outhouse. This house was like a piece of art. From the beautiful woodwork, cabinetry, and one of a kind light fixtures, we were so impressed. The best? No humming of any kind while sleeping and coffee time in the screen in porch.

Pros: Why We Love Airbnb

1. Affordable. Its no surprise, you can find very affordable deals on Airbnb.com and there is something for every budget. Want more deals? Use our referral code for $40 off your first stay. Click here, and use our referral code! www.airbnb.com/c/brookem3645 to snag this deal.

2. Less Touristy. More Local. I wasn’t expecting to feel this way. I didn’t think it would make a huge difference, or that I’d feel this. But I definitely did! I felt like we were living like a local, which all adds to the experience! Maybe it had something to do with staying in a neighborhood with other locals around, or being in a more normal routine of cooking and doing dishes, either way, I dug it.

3. Privacy. I do feel like having a house or condo was more private than a hotel. More quiet, less distraction. Just, relaxing.

4. Saving money on food. I LOVE to eat out at restaurants especially when traveling. But no surprise – eating out for every meal can quickly blow the budget. I loved having a kitchen with a full size fridge to have easy, healthy food! We made eggs every morning, and for lunches we made wraps every day.

5. Personal. From check-in to check-out, our hosts were friendly and easy to get ahold of we had any questions! Most have been flexible with check in and check out time, and of course very accommodating.

Most of our photos in this post were taken with our Go Pro Hero 5. Check them out here on Amazon, and make sure you read our Go Pro review!

CONS: They aren’t for everyone

1. You don’t know what you’re going to get. Pictures can be deceiving. My aunt and uncle experienced this first hand with their first Airbnb experience! They had broken heating, standing water on the first floor, broken locks, and the whole house was much smaller than pictured. Needless to stay, they booked a hotel.

2. Cleanliness. Are the sheets cleaned? Has everything been disinfected? Dishes washed? Thankfully, in our experience, we had clean homes! And of course, these things could also be a concern at a dodgy-hotel.

3. Not as plush. There’s no room service, fresh towels, or fluffy robes. Airbnb’s do lack in these sort of conveniences.  And I get it, sometimes not having a kitchen to cook or clean is super nice.

What to Look for When Booking

Read the reviews! Seriously, dive into those reviews! What did people love? What didn’t go well? If people weren’t satisfied, they are going to share their experience. Also if people’s expectations were exceeded? You can bet they will share! We made sure to read and prioritize the reviews on cleanliness and the beds. Because who likes spending their vacation sleeping on an uncomfortable bed?! 

Also, make sure you read about the cancellation policy, because some are stricter than others. Checking out the amenities section and “house rules” also helped us make our decision.

Hope this helps! Overall, we love Airbnb and will be definitely booking again. Definitely consider it for your next adventure. Remember to use our referral link: www.airbnb.com/c/brookem3645 for $40 of your first booking!

 

Travel On, 

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*This post contains affiliate links. That means, I may receive a commission for some of the links in this post- at no cost to you. See our Disclaimer page for details*